Combined gauge hole cover and vapor line connector



J. H. WIGGINS COMBINED GAUGE HOLE COVER AND VAPOR'LINE CONNECTOR Filed Jui 21, 1944 INVENTOR.

JOHNH WIG INS W2? ATTORNEY Aug..27, 194s.

HHHIHMH Y IIIIIIIIIIuII-III Patented Aug. 27, 1946 OFFICE COMBINED GAUGE HOLE COVER AND VAPOR LINE CONNECTOR- John H. Wiggins,'Chicago, Ill.

Application July 21, 1944, Serial No. 546,043

4 Claims. (Cl. 220-45) This invention relates to apparatus of the kind that are used for handling or storing volatile substances, and particularly, apparatus of the type in which a storage tank or container is connected with a gas holder or vapor collecting system in such a manner that during the operation of filling the tank, or durin a period when the contents of the tank is expanding, vapor can pass from the tank to the gas holder or collecting system, and during a period when the contents of the tank is contracting, vapor or an air-vapor mixture can flow back into the tank from the gas holder or collecting system.

One object of my invention is to provide a liquid-sealed device that is adapted to be used as a connector, for establishing communication between a vapor line and an opening in a tank roof that is intended to be used for gauging or for other purposes.

Another object is to provide a liquid-sealed device of the kind above referred to, that can be easily adjusted or manipulated so as to uncover the gauge hole in th roof of the tank and simultaneously cut off the vapor line from the atmosphere and also from the tank.

And still another object is to provide a combined gauge hole cover and vapor line connecting device, that is inexpensive to manufacture, reliable in operation, and easy to combine with a tank and a vapor line.

Figure 1 of the drawing is a' vertical sectional view of a combined gauge hole cover and vapor line connector, embodying my invention; and

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 1. 1

In the accompanying drawing whichillustrates the preferred. form of my invention, E designates a tank for storing volatile oils or other gaseous or vapor-producing substances, F designates the roof of said tank which is provided with a gauge hole formed by a collar C attached to said roof so as to surround an opening therein, and D designates a vapor line that leads to a gas holder or other vapor collecting system (not shown).

My invention consists of an apparatus or device that can be easily combined with the tank roof F and with the vapor line D, so as to serve as a cover for the gauge hole in the roof, and also as a connector for establishing communication between the vapor line D and the interior of the tank E. In the form of my invention herein shown, said apparatus or device consists of a reservoir B, preferably of substantial oblong shape, as shown in Figure 2, a gauge opening pipe B attached to and projecting downwardly through the bottom of said reservoir, a vapor pipe B attached to and projecting downwardly through the bottom of said reservoir, and a removable cover A for the reservoir B, provided with a depending vane A whose lower end portion is submerged in sealing liquid X in said reservoir. B is the bottom of said reservoir B The gauge opening pipe 13 is provided at its lower end with a flange B for attaching said pipe to the gauge hole collar C on th roof of the tank E, and the vapor pipe B is provided with a flange B for attaching said pipe to the vapor line D. 1 Normally, the cover A occupies the position shown in full lines in Figure 1. Accordingly, when the tank E is being filled, or during a period when the contents of said tank is expanding, gas or vapor will pass from the tank to the vapor line D, as indicated by the arrows G in Figure 1, through the liquid-sealed connecting passageway formed by the space above the liquid X that is bounded by the vane A on the removable cover A of the reservoir B. During a period when the contents of the tank E is contracting, vapor or an air-vapor mixture can flow in the reverse direction through said liquid-sealed space, from thevapor line D back into the tank E. Whenever, it is desired to gauge the tank E, this can be accomplished without unsealing the vapor line D, by grasping the handle A on the cover A and shifting the cover longitudinally of the reservoir 3' into the position shown in broken lines in Figure 1. When said cover is arranged in such a shifted position, the gauge opening in the roof of the tank is accessible, but the depending van A on the cover which is submerged in the liquid X in the reservoir, seals the vapor line from the atmosphere and also cuts off communication between the vapor line and the tank E. A device or apparatusoi the construction above described is reliable in operation, it is inexpensive to manufacture, and it is easy to install.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination of a storage tank provided with a gauge opening, a vapor line through which vapors or gases can escape from or return to said tank, and a liquid-sealed structure comprising an adjustable means adapted to be arrangedin one position, wherein said means closes said gauge opening and vapor line to the atmosphere and establishes communication between said elements and in a different position,wherein said means cut off communication between said elements and exposes the gauge opening to the atmosphere while the'vapor line remains cut off from the atmosphere, V V

2. The combination of a storage tank provided with a guage pipe, a vapor pipe, a reservoir in communication with said guage pipe and vapor pipe, a body of sealing liquid in said reservoir, and a shiftable cover for said reservoir provided with a depending; vane, sealed by said liquid, said.

cover adapted to be arranged in one position,

7 wherein said vane surrounds both of said pipes and is submerged in the liquid, and in a different: I

position, wherein said vane' separates saidw pipes from each other.

V 3. The combination of a, storage tank provided with a gauge opening, a vapor line, a reservoir with which saidgauge opening and vapor line communicate, a body of sealing liquid in said 4. The combination of a storage tank whose roof is provided with a gauge pipe, avapor line pipe in spaced, relation with said. gauge pipe, a

V reservoir having a, bottom, up through which said pipes project, a body of sealing liquid in said reservoir, 3, shiftable cover for said reservoir, and

reservoir, and a shiftable cover for said reservoi'r I provided with a, part that projects downwardly intosaid liquid, said cover being adapted to be arranged in one position, wherein it cuts 'off said gauge opening and vapor line from the atmosa depending vane on said cover, submerged in said sealing liquid, said vane being so disposed that in one position of the cover the vane surround both oi said pipes and establishes communication between said pipes; and in the other position of the cover, the gauge pipe-is open to the atmosphere and the vane on said cover cuts off the vapor pipe from the gauge pipeand seals the vapor pipe to the atmosphere. 7

V JOHN H.,VWIGGINS. 

